Sawmill carriage



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. T. BRADFORD SAWMILL CARRIAGE Filed April 19, 1926 June 28, 1927.

EARLY 7." BRADFORD,

June 1927' E. r. BRADFORD SAWMLLL CARRIAGE.

Filed April 19, 1926 =5 e s-Sheet 2 June 28, 1927- T. BRADFORD SAWMILL CARRIAGE Fil ed Anril 19. 1926 3 -$11881 EARLY 7." BRADFORD, 8%", J WVW' atkozmq Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

EARLY r. BRADFORD, on THREE norcn, ALABAMA.

SAWMILL CARRIAGE.

1,633,920 PATENT OFFICE.

Application filed April 19, 1926. Serial No. 102,967.

My invention relates to saw mill carriages.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for causing the carriage to travel longitudinally in opposite directions, which means is constructed so that the operation of the same is controlled from a point on the carriage, whereby the attendant riding the carriage, controls the travel of the carriage, and may also handle the blocks, dogs, etc., in the usual manipulation of the log.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character which will feed the carriage rearwardly faster than forwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide driving means for the carriage, which may be installed upon the carriage of the ordinary saw mill, without materially altering the construction of the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. 1

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatusembodying my invention, I

Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe same,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the driving means forthe carriage,

Figure 4k is a longitudinal section taken on line lof Figure 5,

Figure5 is a plan view of the carriage,

F igureG is a longitudinal section taken on line 66 of F igure'5,'and,

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodi ment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates track rails, which lead to the circular saw, as is well known. These tails are snown as rigidly mounted upon longitudinal beams 11, connected at their ends by'trans verse beams 12 and 13.

arrangement.

Mounted to travel longitudinally upon the track rails 10, is a'carriage 13, whichmay be of any well known or preferred type. This I The invention is, of course, not restricted to this particular and holding of the log during the sawing operation, all of which is well known in the art.

Extending transversely beneath the track rails 10, preferably near the central portion thereof, is a transverse horizontal drive shaft 15, which is continuously driven in in the proper direction.

Rigidly mounted upon the transverse drive shaft 15 is a small forward drive pulley 22, and a larger rear drive pulley 23. These pul leys are preferably grooved, as shown. The

pulley 22 serves to drive the carriage-forwardly and the pulley 23 serves to drive the carriage rearwardly and the pulley 23 is larger, so that the carriage may be driven I .rearwardly at a higher rate of speed. VVhe'n the carriage is being" moved toward the saw, v

this is regarded as the forward movement and the rearward movement is when the carriage is moving away from the saw.

As'more clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, a pair of transverse support shafts 24 are suitably mounted upon the carriage, and may be attached thereto in any suitable manner.

Rotatably mounted upon these support shafts arepairs of brake drums 25, 25; and 26, These brake drums are free to turn upon the shafts 2 but cannot partake of shafts 24. The brake drum 25 is provided at its inner end with a preferably grooved pulley 28, the brake drum 25 with a grooved pulley 28, the brake drum 26 with a grooved pulley 29, and the brake drum 26 with a pulley'29. These pulleys are rigidly attached to their drums to rotate therewith and are preferably formed integral therewith. 1

Wounted between the support shaft-s 24, is

Any suitable means may be employed to rotate the drive shaft preferably longitudinally adjustable.

the brake drum 25. The upper end of the brake band is connected with a link 34,

which is pivotally connected with a double ended lever 35, rigidly attached to the rock shaft 30, to be swung thereby. The opposite end of the connecting link 32 is pivotally connected with the upper end of a brake band 36 passed about the drum and having its lower end pivotally connected with a link 37 which is pivotally connected with the lower end of the lever 35. A connecting link 38 is pivotally mounted upon the rock shaft and has one end pivotally connected with a brake band 39. The opposite or lower end of this brake band 39 is'pivotally connected with a link 40 pivoted with the lower end of a vertically swinging lever 41, which rigidly mounted upon the rock shaft 30. The upper end of this lever is pivotally connected with a link pivoted with a brake band 43, which surrounds the drum 26, and has its lower end pivotally connected with the opposite end of the link 38.

The rock shaft 30 has an upstanding crank 44, rigidly secured to one end thereof, and this crank has pivotal connection with a link 45, connect-ed with a hand lever '46, pivoted upon the carriage.

In view of the foregoing description, it

will be seen that when the lever 46 is swung forwardly, the brake bands 33 and 36 will lock the drums 25 and 25 against rotation, and when this lever is swung rearwardly, these drums will release and the brake bands 39 and 43 will lock the drums 26 and 26 against rotation. When the lever 46 is released, it will assume .a neutral position, and both sets of drums are free to turn.

Arranged near the forward end of the track rails 10 is a transverse rotatable shaft J, which may be suitably secured to the beams 11. grooved pulleys 48 and 49, which are independently rotatably mounted upon the shaft 47. Arranged in alineinent with the grooved pulleys 48 is a second grooved pulley 50, rotatable in a housing or block 51, which is The block 51 is provided with a screw 52, extending through an opening in the transverse beam 12 and carries .a nut 53. Arranged in alinenlent with the grooved pulley 49 is a second grooved pulley 54 rotatable in a block I and carrying a screw 56. This screw operates in an opening formed with the beam 12 and carries a nut 57. Arranged between and in .alinement with the grooved pulleys 48 and is a grooved pulley 58 This shaft carries preferably carried by a rotatable shaft 59 journaled ithe beams 11. A grooved pulley 60 is ar ranged between the pulleys 49 and 54, and in alinement therewith, and is mounted upon a shaft 61 journaled in the beams 11.

The numeral 62 designates an endless belt, preferably in the form of a cable. This cable is passed about the pulley 48 and its upper portion extends rearwardly from this pulley and passes about the pulley 28, and then downwardly about the forward side of the pulley 28, and then rearwardly about the rear side of the pulley 50. The cable 62 then extends forwardly over the pulley 58, about its forward side and then rearwardly about the drive pulley 22, about its rear side. and then about the pulley 48, as eX- plained. The cable 62 is employed to effect the forward travel of the carriage. The numeral 63 designates a companion endless belt, preferably in the form of a cable to effect the rearward travel of the carriage.

This cable extends about the pulley 49 and its upper portion extends rearwardly from the pulley 49 about the rear side of the pulley 29. ly and downwardly and about the forward side of the pulley 29 and then rearwardly over the rear side of the pulley 54. The cable 63 then extends forwardly and passes about the forward side of the drive pulley 23 and then rearwardly over the rear side of the pulley 60 and then about the pulley 49, as explained. The endless belts/62 and 63 travel in opposite directions, since portions thereof engage opposite sides of the drive pulleys 22 and 23.

The cable 63 then extends forward- I The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The shaft 15 may be continuously driven in the direction of the arrow and the two endless belts or cables are continuously driven in opposite directions, in the direction of their arrows. When the lever 46 is in the neutral position the two cables continuously rotate the two sets of drums and the carriage remains stationary. lVhen it is desired to drive the carriage forwardly the lever 46 is swung for ardly and the drums 25 and 25 are locked against rotation. The forward upper portion 62 of the cable 62 is now, in elfect, immovably attached to the carriage through the medium of the drum 23, and the carriage will be drawn forward- 1y by the portion 62 while the drums 26 and 26 are free to rotate. l/Vhen the carriage reaches the end of its forward travel, the operator releases the lever 46 and it automatically returns to the neutral position and both sets of drums rotate and the carriage stops. lVhen it is desired to shiftthe carriage rearwardly the lever 46 is swung rearwardly and the drums 26 and 26 are locked against rotation while the drums 25 and 25 are rotating. The portion 63 of the cable 63 is now traveling rearwardly, and is, in efiect, immovably attached to the carriage through the medium of the pulley 29, and hence the carriage is shifted rearwardly. WVhen the end of the rearward travel of the carriage is reached, the lever is released and both sets of drums rotate and the carriage stops.

Whenever the term endless belts, is employed in the claims it is intended to cover thereby such devices, regardless of whether they are formed of cables, belts or chains. The term pulleys, is used in connection with the cables is also intended to cover any suitable co-acting rotatable element such as a wheel, sprocket wheel, or grooved pulley.

t is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim I. In saw mill carriage feed mechanism, a track, a carriage to travel thereon, a pair of separate endless belts extending longitudinally of the track, means to drive the belts in opposite directions, pairs of pulleys mounted upon the carriage, the pulleys in one pair engaging one belt and the pulleys in the other pair engaging the other belt, and means to lock either pair of pulleys against rotation.

2. In saw mill carriage feed mechanism, a track, a carriage to travel thereon, a pair of separate endless belts extending longitudinally of the track, means to drive the belts in opposite directions, pairs of drums rotatable upon the carriage, pairs of pulleys attached to the drums, the pulleys in one pair engaging one belt and the pulleys in the other pair engaging the other belt, and means to lock the drums in each pair against rotation.

3. In saw mill carriage feed mechanism, a track, a carriage to travel thereon, a pair of endless belts extending longitudinally of the track, means to drive the belts in opposite directions, pairs of drums rotatable upon the carriage, pairs of pulleys rotatable with the drums, the pulleys in one pair engaging one belt and the pulleys in the other pair engaging the other belt, brake means associated with each pairof drums, and a lever mounted upon the carriage to alternately render each brake means active.

4. In saw mill carriage feed mechanism, a track, a carriage to travel thereon, a pair of endless belts extending longitudinally of the track, means to drive the belts in opposite directions, pairs of drums rotatable upon the carriage, pairs of pulleys rotatable with the drums, the pulleys in one pair engaging one belt and the pulleys in the other pair engaging the other belt, brake bands engaging the pairs of drums, a rock shaft mounted upon the carriage, a lever to turn the rock shaft, and operative connections between the rock shaft and the pairs of brake bands.

5. In saw mill carriage feed mechanism, a track, a carriage to travel thereon, a pair of separate endless belts extending longitudinally of the track, means to continuously drive the belts in opposite directions, pairs of pulleys rotatably mounted upon the carriage, the pulleys in one pair engaging one belt and the pulleys in the other pair engaging the other belt, each belt passing about the outer portions onlyof the pulleys which they engage, pairs of drums attached to the pairs of pulleys, a pair of brake devices for each pair of drums, and means to alternately render one pair of brake devices active and the other pair inactive.

6. In saw mill carriage feed mechanism, a track, a carriage to travel longitudinally thereon, a pair of separate endless belts extending longitudinally of the track, pairs of pulleys mounted upon the carriage, the pulleys in one pair engaging one endless belt and the pulleys in the other pair engaging the other endless belt, each endless belt engaging the outer portions only of the pulleys, a pair of drums secured to each pair of pulleys, a pair of brake bands engaging each pair of drums, a transverse rocleshaft secured to the carriage, cranks mounted upon the rocloshait and connected with the pairs of brake bands, the connection being such that when the rock-shaft is turned in one direction one pair of brake. bands is rendered active While the other pair is rendered inactive, and means to turn the rockshaft and means to drive the endless belts continuously in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

EARLY T. BRADFORD. 

